Amsterdams fresh pair of eyes

It’s a strategic move for the Port of Amsterdam which wants to focus on improving its existing trade relationship with the region. Amsterdam is a major cocoa port and receives a high level of shipment from west Africa, so it makes sense to help with speeding up the efficiency of cargo transhipment.

Gert-Jan Nieuwenhuizen, PoAI director, told Port Strategy: “Because of this relationship we know the region, we know the business, we know what it takes develop a port infrastructure. This project will eventually result in a master plan and implementation plan that will transform and restructure the Port of Cotonou in order to facilitate its growth and drive the Benin economy.”

Contonou already serves a major west African port with transhipment currently exceeding six million tonnes annually. But it is looking at increasing its annual volume to around 20 million tonnes. The trouble is it’s currently beset by outdated facilities, major congestion problems and shortage of quay space, so is unable to achieve its growth potential in its present state.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen added: “In order to achieve this ambition, it is of vital importance that infrastructure, hinterland connections and service levels in the key port of Cotonou are revitalised, to offer an attractive gateway to West Africa.”

And this is where Amsterdam comes in. The port will lend its expertise to Cotonou in terms of technical restructuring, monitoring and quality control. It will work closely with its Dutch and international partners in order to solve current problems and make the port smarter in a project funded by the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands.

The Port of Amsterdam is also looking to develop this kind of project in the Caribbean region, South America and Sub-Sahara.